AKSHITA MAPARI

In molecular physics, it is the minimum amount of energy required to energize the molecules.

The activation energy is the energy supplied to the matter to get the work done. Let us see some of the activation energy examples in this article as listed below:-

Lighter to Lit the Gas

The natural gas running to the burner is ignited using a spark created by the lighter. On pushing the piston of the lighter, the stone near the tip of the lighter rubs and produces a spark due to friction. This stone is very sensitive and is made up of piezoelectric ceramics mostly made up of lead.

Ignite the Campfire

To put a campfire, the fire is the activation energy to burn the wood.

The wood will burn by supplying it with heat energy in terms of fire. This heat energy will be utilized to break the carbon bonds and react with the oxygen to form the carbon dioxide.

Kinetic Energy for Running

The energy to run we receive from the chemical potential energy of the food. This provides us with the potential energy that will be utilized to do the work. Well, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy by the mechanical energy generated by the muscular force of our body. Hence, the potential energy, as well as the muscular energy, is the activation energies here.

Fire the Matchstick

To fire the matchstick we rub the matchstick on the surface which is made up of red phosphorus.

On rubbing, the frictional force is exerted on both the surface and the lid of the matchstick. This frictional energy is converted into the heat energy which is supplied to the phosphorus electrons and the excitation of electrons results in the fire.

Jump on the Trampoline

A trampoline is used to jump higher with equal incident force and conserve the momentum of the body. To take a leap from the trampoline, an equal amount of energy has to be imposed by making a jump on it which is then converted into kinetic energy and back to the potential energy and the cycle continues till you conserve your potential energy.

Heat for Boiling

For a liquid to raise the temperature to the boiling point, the phase at which it will change from liquid to vapor state, the amount of heat energy needs to be supplied to raise the temperature of the liquid to the boiling temperature.

Electrolysis

It is a process of generating electric current from the chemical reaction taking place between the two solutions connected along with the wire. Depending upon the availability of the ions, there is a motion of the ions from one container to another through a wire connected to the rods inserted in each of the solutions. This mobility of the ions conducts electric current.

Combustion

It is a process of generating heat and light by the chemical reaction between the substances and the oxygen from the air. It is carried either due to the frictional force or burning.

Key for Vehicles

To start a vehicle you need a key that starts the engine of the vehicle.

As the engine starts working, the piston moves up and down combusting the fuel supplied from the fuel engine, and the vehicle starts.

Swings

To set the swing to oscillate, it has to give the initial oscillation. The greater the angle you pull from the normal of the swing, the more time it will take for you to come back to the initial position.

Spark

To generate a spark the frictional force has to be applied or there should be a continuous supply of heat energy for the excitation of the electron.

You must have observed the spark coming out when you hammer the nail continuously. This is due to the fact that the frictional force is converted into the heat energy which is supplied to the free electrons on the surface that is excited with the extra available energy in the form of a spark.

Fuel for Engine

For the engine to work, there should be a supply of fuel for the combustion process to occur and provide energy to the system. Without fuel, the engine doesn’t work. Hence chemical energy is the activation energy to convert it into heat energy during the combustion process.

Steamboat

The steamboat works on the vapor generated by boiling the water in the boiler. The heat energy is supplied to the boiler by the combustion of wood or coal.

As the temperature of the water reaches the boiling point, the water turns into a vapor state and the turbine is made to rotate.

Roll the Ball

To roll the ball the external pressure has to be applied to the ball. The force should be in proportion to the mass of the ball such that it moves its initial position and accelerate. Hence, the energy required to apply the force corresponding to its mass is the activation energy.

Light the Bulb

To light the bulb there should be a source of electrical energy. The light bulb emits radiations based on the excitation energy of the electron of the metal used in a bulb.

Cyclone

The rise in a sea surface temperature above 27⁰ C will develop the probability of developing a cyclone. The rise in temperature results in the fall of the atmospheric pressure below 1 atm which results in the rising of water vapors.

The kinetic energy gained by the vapors is so large that they raise to a large height and then convert back into the potential energy and return down and the cycle continues forming the eye of the cyclone due to vacuum.

Evaporation

The evaporation of the water vapors in the atmosphere during the cold weather is due to the heat energy received by the molecules of the water during intense sunlight. This energy is given by evaporation and condenses into the fog.  Because of the cold climate, more of the heat energy is given away by the water bodies.

Coal in Trains

The combustion of coal is used to supply the energy to the engine to work and convert the chemical energy into the kinetic energy of the train.

The coal is made up of carbon which easily reacts with the oxygen in the air to convert into the carbon dioxide during the combustion process.

Remove the Dirt from the Clothes

The molecules of detergents behave like a bar magnet with water. At one end it acts as hydrophilic mixes with water and another end act as hydrophobic repels away from water molecules. This also reduces the surface tension capacity of the water. These molecules lift the dust particle on the fabric and wash it away.

Nuclear Fission

Fission is the bifurcation of parent nuclei to produce two daughter nuclei. The energy required for the parent nuclei to carry out the fission reaction is gained by the incident particle that makes the neutron unstable by giving the energy on bombarding with it.

LED

Light-emitting diode emits light when connected to the source. The color of the light depends upon the energy bad gap between the diode.

The excitation energy is required to cross this barrier by the free electron present in the semiconductor which is supplied by the electrical energy.

LDR

The light-dependent resistor depends upon the intensity of light incident on the photoresistor. If the intensity of the light falling on the LDR is maximum, then the resistance value of the photoresistor will be less and if the intensity of the light is less, then the resistance value of the photoresistor will be more.

Semiconductors

Semiconductors are of two types depending upon the type of element doped to form either n-p-n or p-n-p semiconductors. The semiconductor starts conducting when the energy is supplied to the material in the form of electrical or heat energy.

Solar Panels

The solar panel converts the sunlight into electrical energy and the inverter converts the dc into an alternate current.

As the photons carried by the sunlight are incident on the panel, the energy is grasped by the valence electrons of silicon and starts moving towards the protons. This movement caused the generation of electric current.

Transition of Electrons

For electrons to transit from one energy level to a higher energy level, a lot of energy is required which is supplied to the electron in the form of heat or electrical energy. The transition of the electrons emits the radiations depending upon the energy required to jump at the higher energy levels. Upon releasing the energy by the electrons, the electrons fall from the higher level to the lower energy levels.

Motor

The motor will start working by supplying the electrical energy source to the two terminals of the motor. The amount of voltage required for the motor to work depends upon the magnetic strength of the field of the motor.

Drone

The drones are controlled remotely by varying the voltage supplied to the propellers of the drone.

The drone will work properly if the correct propellers are used with the specific motors and the battery source depending on the weight of your model.

Capacitor

The capacitor stores some amount of energy with it even after disconnecting from the circuit. This is used as activation energy by the fans initially when the switch is turned on.

Sunlight for Photosynthesis

The sunlight is required by the plant to produce food and oxygen. The carbon dioxide is utilized by the plant to use carbon to form glucose.

Lighter

Lighter compose of butane fuel that is highly reactive with the air and flammable on coming in contact with the air.

On pressing the knob the frictional force creates a spark. The pressure is released and the butane is converted into gas that catches fire.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to calculate the activation energy?

The activation energy is the energy required by the system to conduct the work.

The activation energy is calculated using the Arrhenius equation of energy which is given by the formula

where E_a is the activation energy and k is a rate constant.

How activation energy is very essential?

The activation energy is the energy required for a process to start.

It is the energy supplied to the system that may be converted into some other form of energy ahead but required utilizing which the system will do the work.

Also, please click to know about 9+ Free Energy Examples.

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The term ‘absorption of energy’ itself denotes the tendency of the object to absorb energy of some kind.

It is the capacity of the object to absorb the energy emerging towards it and utilize it to do the work in some other form of energy. Let us discuss some absorption of energy examples here below in this topic as listed in the following:-

Fusion

Fusion is a process in which two neutrons fuse together to form a neutron of higher atomic mass. The energy of both bombarding neutrons is absorbed by each neutron to form a single neutron mass and part of the energy is released giving away the positrons and electrons.

Chemical Energy from Food

The chemical energy from the food that we eat is absorbed by our body and stored in the form of glucose and other chemical components.

This potential energy gained from the chemical energy is utilized by us while doing some work.

Black-body

The black body is known for its emissivity factor equal to 1 which is highest than any other object. It completely absorbs all radiations incident on its surface thus increasing the internal energy of the object.

This is the reason why people living in cold weather conditions wear black-colored dresses to absorb the heat radiations from the surroundings to keep the body warm.

Solar Panels

The solar panel work on the idea that the black body absorbs most of the radiation and doesn’t reflect the incident rays of light. The upper surface of the panel is painted with black such that the sunrays incident on the panel is absorbed by the solar panel and the energy acquired is passed to the semiconducting material. The free-electron then absorbs this energy and starts conducting to produce electricity.

Mobile Screen

The screen of the smartphone mobile is made up of a number of liquid crystal displays to give vibrant color to the screen and is protected by the aluminosilicate glass which is also called a gorilla glass.

This glass is majorly composed of silicon and aluminum. You must have noticed that the overuse of the mobile does heat up the screen and it is seen more frequently when you take out your phone in the hot sun. This is because your mobile screen absorbs the radiation from the sun and the radio waves and this radiant energy is converted into heat energy thus heating your mobile screen.

Cooking Food

The heat is supplied to cook the food. The proteins present in the food items coagulate when the heat is passed, breaking apart and losing moisture. The heat energy is absorbed and spread to allow the food to cook. The food is cooked due to the absorption of heat energy supplied to the food.

Boiling Water

The water is boiled due to the absorption of heat energy by the molecules of the water. As the molecules absorb the heat energy, they start vibrating, generating the friction due to which the heat is supplied to the surrounding molecules as well.

At the boiling point as the volume of water has enough energy, the bonds between the molecules breaks, and the molecules escape in the form of vapors.

Smog

Smog is a combination of fog and smoke. The fog is formed due to the condensation of the evaporated vapors of the water during the winter seasons. The evaporation of water vapors is due to the irradiation of the heat energy received by the water bodies during the daylight which is given out as the temperature falls down.

If the smoke is released into the air in foggy weather, then these smoke particles will be absorbed by the water vapors and the smog is formed.

Photosynthesis

In the process of photosynthesis, the sunlight and carbon dioxide from the air is absorbed by the plants and trees to produce food and oxygen. The carbon is stored by the trees and gives away the oxygen into the atmosphere thus reducing the amount of carbon dioxide content in the air. This carbon is cycled back to the air quantity on decomposition, fossilization, and burning the plant matter.

Blue Ink on Chalk

The chalk is made up of calcium carbonate and has many porous voids hence it can easily absorb the liquid substances in it.

The blue ink is completely absorbed by the chalk. As the liquid is filled in these vacant voids the oxygen gas already present in these voids is removed as the density of the liquid is more than that of a gas.

Solar Heaters

The solar heater absorbs the sunlight and converts it into the heat energy which is used to boil the water and also to provide heat in the winters to keep the rooms warm. The working of the solar heater is the same as the solar panels as we have discussed before.

Campfire

The wood is made up of a chemical matter comprising the carbon element as they utilize carbon dioxide from the air to prepare their food.

This chemical energy of the wood when burnt gives out heat energy along with the radiation energy. The campfire helps to keep the body warm in during the camp in the winter season. The heat energy is radiated in the surrounding nearby area till the heat energy is given away by the molecules.

Irradiation

Irradiation is the process of giving away the acquired heat energy by the object to attain the equilibrium state. As the light is incident on the object during the daylight the object absorbs the radiations. As consequence, the internal heat energy of the system increases, and the molecules of the system become agile and add the heat energy to the system caused due to friction of the molecules due to back and forth motions.

This energy is given away in the form of radiation of low-frequency waves giving away the heat in the surroundings and coming at an equilibrium temperature of the system.

Light Dependent Resistor

The light-dependent resistor is also called the photo-resistor which is very sensitive to the light. The resistance of the LDR increases when there is low intensity of the light and decreases with the increasing intensity of the light falling on the LDR.

These are used for street lights and also on the road lane as road indicators during the night. We can control the working of the LDR based on this fact when to turn the LDR ON and OFF.

Spectrum from Potassium Permanganate Solution

If you made visible spectra of light incident on the container filled with the solution of potassium permanganate, you will notice that only the purple color light emerges out from the solution.

The component of light of wavelength 515nm is absorbed by the particles in the solution and the spectra emerging after refraction are the components of light in the red and blue region thus the mixture of these two colors gives a purple appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

On what factors the absorption of energy depends?

The absorption of energy is the amount of energy acquired by the system and stored with it.

The absorption of energy depends upon various factors like the capacity of the object to acquire the energy, its internal temperature, the molecular structure, the number of free electrons available, the configuration of the object, etc.

Is a capacitor an example of absorption energy?

The capacitors consist of two parallel conducting plates separated by a small gap.

The capacitor stores a small amount of charge even after disconnecting it from the circuit. It absorbs the electrical energy as per its capacity and stores it temporarily.

Click to read more on 20+ Stored Energy Examples.

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In this article, let us discuss some of the alternate sources of energy that can be bought into use to conserve the sparse sources of energy.

It is an alternate source of energy in order to conserve the natural resources and prevent the harmful gases leading to global warming, which can be renewable sources and available abundantly. Here is a list of alternative energy examples that we are going to discuss further:-

Hydrogen Fuel

It is an eco-friendly fuel and most efficient and can provide more amount of energy as compared to the rest of the fuels. It comprises hydrogen stored in the form of liquid by compressing and storing in coolants.

Galvanic Cell

It is a method to generate electricity through chemical energy. Two different solutions are taken in a beaker connected with a salt bridge, and two rods of different charges are inserted into each beaker. The chemical reaction is carried out due to the motion of ions through a wire connecting both the rods and the salt bridge. The motion of ions thus conducts the electric current.

Steamboat

The steamboat works on the steam engine which has a boiler. The heat is supplied to the boiler filled with water.

As the temperature reaches the boiling point, the water turns into the vapor state and evaporates on the turbine which rotates due to the vapor pressure.

Geothermal Energy

It is the energy derived from the Earth. As the pressure increases down the depth beneath the Earth’s crust, the temperature also rises, thus the liquid matter turns into the vapor state of high temperatures. These vapors are made to pass on the turbine by inserting a pipe making a borehole. Due to the thermal pressure, the turbine starts rotating. This mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy at the generator.

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear fission gives out a huge amount of energy.

Nuclear power plants are set up to produce nuclear energy, and this energy is utilized for various purposes like electricity, production of hydrogen fuel, desalination of seawater, heat energy, etc.

Solar Panel

Solar energy is converted into electrical energy with the help of solar panels. The sunlight incident on the solar panel energies the free electrons due to which they start migrating towards the oppositely charged particles and conduct electricity.

Wind Energy

The wind energy is converted into electrical energy by establishing the windmills. As the wind blows over the windmill, propellers start rotating and its rotational speed is intensified with the help of the shaft and motor. This is then converted into electrical energy.

Tidal Energy

The tides are of great height in the ocean as the volume of water in the ocean is more compared to other water bodies.

The ocean is an immense source of potential energy. The tides are formed due to the gravitational pull of the Moon exerted on the Earth.

Biogas

Biogas is a renewable source of energy that is generated by the waste remains of the flora and fauna. This biogas fuel is easily available, cheapest, and a good source of energy.

Hydro Power Plant

Hydropower is the power generated by the application of water. The water turbine is used to transform the potential energy of the water into mechanical energy, which is then converted to electrical energy.

Natural Gas

Natural gas is derived from the Earth’s crust which is found near the crude oil deposition.

This is used as cooking fuel, vehicles, etc. This helps to reduce the emission of carbon into the atmosphere.

Oven

The microwave oven basically works on the microwaves generated by the magnet that emits heat waves. These heat waves are imposed on the food items kept inside the oven and cook food in the time set. This helps to save natural gas, and also reduces the emission of carbon dioxide by getting rid of coal and firewood.

Solar Heaters

The solar energy from the sun is an abundant source of energy on the earth and can be used to convert it into various forms of energy for different purposes. The solar heater absorbs the radiation from the Sun during the day and irradiates the energy during the night to provide warmth.

Solar Cooker

Since the black body completely absorbs the radiations, it is used here along with the reflectors to reflect the incident light on the black body.

The black body absorbs these radiations and the temperature inside the cooker rises essentially for cooking the food.

Desalination

The heat energy generated in the nuclear power plant is derived by the coolants running through the pipe and finally through the seawater. The immense heat energy is utilized for the desalination of seawater.

Dam

The dams are constructed to store the water for utility during summers when there is water scarcity. The water in the dam has gravitational potential energy depending on the height at which the level of water is raised.

This water is used to generate electricity by planting the water turbine at the gate of the dam. The kinetic energy of the water is converted into the mechanical energy of the turbine which is then transformed into electrical energy.

Batteries

The rechargeable batteries used over the general chemical batteries can help prevent chemical and electronic waste. The rechargeable batteries are made up of lithium-ions, nickel-cadmium, etc.

LED Bulb with Inverter

Nowadays, there are LED bulbs that come along with the inverter circuits inbuilt in it, and hence come in handy even in absence of current, thus this bulb saves a lot of electricity.

The LED bulb has also replaced the commercial old bulb of a tungsten filament. Since tungsten is a very rare element, the use of LED bulbs will reduce the requirement for tungsten.

Exothermic Reaction

Exothermic Reactions are those reactions that release a huge amount of heat energy when the reactants react to form products. This heat is generated due to the fact that the amount of chemical energy released on breaking the bonds, not all the energy is utilized to form the new bonds.

Trees

Trees provide us with food and oxygen. The food has stored chemical potential energy. The burning wood of the tree converts the chemical energy into heat and radiant energy. The fossilized tree is turned into coal which is used as a fuel.

Rockets

An immense amount of energy is required to push the rockets to overcome the gravitation force of attraction of the Earth.

Since hydrogen fuel is light in weight and produces more amount of energy as compared to the rest of the fuel, this could be very essential in rocket launching.

Pesticides

Nuclear pesticides are very beneficial in agriculture and farming. This pesticide can sterile the male bug and thus control the population of the bugs and insects, consequently reducing their population and resulting in a good percent of yield.

Windmill to Grind the Grains

Building a windmill near a farm can be very profitable.

The mechanical energy of the windmill can be converted into electrical energy and can also be used to grind the grains produced on the farm.

Lights on Road Lane

At night, in absence of the sunlight, the light absorbed from the daylight is emitted from the LDR fixed along the road lanes. This shows the pathway for the driver at night by emitting the red light which is traverse through the atmosphere at a far distance.

Induction Stove

This works on electricity and cooks food in very less time compare to the gas stoves because its efficiency of transfer of heat is more.

This also helps in saving natural gas and fuel and prevents the environment from harmful chemicals and gases too.

LED Lamps

Instead of traditional oil lamps, we can switch to LED lamps. This can conserve the oil and the carbon and arsenide released from the burning oil. This will also avoid the accident caused due to fire.

Blenders

The blender works on electrical energy and transforms the mechanical energy into chemical energy by grinding the ingredients.

The blades rotate with the shaft attached to them due to the acceleration of the rod on electromagnetic effect.

Reflection

If you have a single source of light of less intensity then how will you light the entire hall from this single source? The reflections of the rays emerging from this source would help. The reflection of the light will help to produce more radiant energy.

Vehicles

The use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in vehicles will help to reduce the air pollution index ratio as this causes less pollution as compared to the rest of the fuels. It releases less carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Scientific Calculator

The scientific calculators have solar cells which can be charged when exposed to sunlight.

These solar cells last for a longer duration as they can be easily charged back.

Water Turbines

The water turbine is used to convert the potential energy of the water into electrical energy by its mechanical energy. The water emerging from the turbine applies force and sets it in a rotational motion. These rotations are intensified and sustained by the motor and shaft attached to it. This mechanical energy is further converted into electrical energy by the generator.

Friction

The frictional force is the resistive force exerted on the body of the object. The frictional force generates heat energy as well as radiant energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main sources of alternative energy?

The energy that can be an alternate solution to reduce the global warming issues and sustain development is an alternative energy source.

The main sources of alternative energy are solar power, water and wind source, wave energy, biofuels, and nuclear energy. These are renewable sources of energy available on the planet.

What are the benefits of alternative energy?

It is obviously very beneficial to choose alternative energy sources.

It conserves biodiversity and nature by reserving its rare sources for the future generation as well as tackling the various environmental problems that would affect the diversity on the planet and sustains development by conserving a large amount of energy.

Also, please click to know about 20+ Passive Solar Energy Examples.

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A chemical is formed by the mixture of two or more substances and includes all the elements, compounds, and various materials comprising these elements.

The chemical energy is stored in these chemical substances through the formation of the bonds. A huge amount of energy is essential to break these bonds and once the bond breaks, the energy thus released is called chemical energy. Let us discuss some of the chemical energy examples listed here below:-

Dry Cells

The dry cells consist of a single graphite rod at the center which acts as a cathode of the battery and the cylindrical zinc case is the anode of the battery. Between the anode and the cathode, it is filled with the paste of manganese dioxide and ammonium chloride. The redox reaction takes place when the electric current is passed through the dry cell and the mobility of the ions conducts electricity.

Oil

The oil is extracted from the oil pool, the area where the traces of oil is identified and located. There are various mechanical methods involved to remove the oil from the great depths beneath the crust and are very expensive methods. The oil is mostly extracted through a borehole by inserting a pipe through it and using a pressure valve. The oil is often present as an emulsion of water in oil and is separated from water by using demulsifiers.

Rechargeable Batteries

The rechargeable batteries are made up of different metals and elements such as Li-Cd, Lithium-ions, Ni-Cd, etc.

These batteries are made up of small electrodes each of different oxidation states.

Electrolysis

It is a process through which the chemical reaction occurs on the application of electrical energy. The two rods are inserted into the chemical solution. On passing the current, one rod behaves as an anode and another as a cathode due to which the negatively charged ion will migrate towards the anode, and positively charged ions will get attracted to the cathode.

Biogas

Biogas is produced from the organic waste of plants and animals.

It is a renewable fuel used for various purposes, like generating electricity, vehicles fuel, and heat generation. The gases formed by breaking the bonds between the organic matter are carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen sulphide.

Bio-methane

The bio-methane is produced due to the decomposition of the organic matter. As the remnant organic matters are exposed to the sunlight, the heat energy is supplied to the matter to break the chemical bonds and degrade into small particles. The decaying of the organic matter releases the biomethane gas into the atmosphere.

LPG Cylinders

The liquid petroleum gas cylinders are filled with natural gas which is derived from the Earth’s crust.

This gas is stored in the form of a liquid phase under great pressure. When the pressure is released by turning the knob open, the liquid is changed back to the gaseous phase and runs through the pipe to reach the burner.

Electricity from the Chemical Reactions

If you take two different solutions in two different containers and connect them by inserting the tips of two wires in the solutions then you will notice that there is a chemical reaction taking place. The ions will migrate from one beaker to another through the wire. This mobility of the charges will generate electrical energy.

Petroleum

It is extracted from the Earth’s crust by drilling underground. First, the presence of the crude oil is located using gravimeters and magnetometers.

After locating the target area, it is drilled and a borehole is made to a depth to reach the target area where there is an accumulation of petroleum. The drill pipe is then removed and inserted with a cylindrical steel pipe through which the crude oil can pass. This is used as a fuel for stoves, burners, vehicles, and engines.

Coal

Coal is made up of 100% carbon which is used as a fuel. It is produced by the organic remains after millions of years of remaining buried under the soil.

Burning of Wood

The burning wood is also a perfect example of the chemical energy which is converted into heat energy and radiant energy.

The wood is composed of chemical components basically carbon matter. The chemical energy of wood is used as a fuel in the kitchen, industries, and factories, as a supplementary heat source.

Food

The food that we eat is stored as chemical energy which provides the potential energy for human beings. Food provides us with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. On chewing the food we degrade the food into smaller particles which further breaks the molecular bonds and gets digested and stored in different forms of chemical energy. This provides us with the energy while doing work.

Photosynthesis

It is a process, in which plants utilized the carbon dioxide present in the air in presence of the sunlight and water to produce food, and give out oxygen as a product.

In this entire process, the radiant energy which is sunlight is converted into the chemical energy in photosynthesis and this chemical energy is turned into the food which is a source of the chemical potential energy of the animals.

Chemical Reactions

The two or more reactants that react to give one or more products are called a chemical reaction and they are of different types. The exothermic reaction is the one where a lot of heat energy is released upon the chemical reaction while the endothermic is the one in which the amount of heat energy from the surrounding is also acquired to form new bonds thus making the solution cooler.

Galvanic Cell

The galvanic cell is used to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The two different solutions are taken in the two separate containers and both are connected to each other by inserting the salt bridge through which the ions can transfer. In both the containers, two rods are inserted out of which one behaves as anode and the other as cathode. The motion of the ions from one container to the other produces the electrical flow thus generating electricity.

Hydro Thermal Plant

The temperature and pressure increase down the depth of the Earth. At this temperature below the depth, the water molecules turn into the vapor form and this thermal energy of the evaporated vapor is turned into a different form of energy.

These vapors are made to travel through a pipe and released on the turbine, which then rotates due to pressure difference and produces electrical energy.

Hydrogen Fuel

The hydrogen fuel is used to ignite the rocket, vehicles, airplanes, fuel cells, etc. as even a small amount of energy can produce a huge amount of energy which is three times more powerful than gasoline and fossil fuel. The advantage of using hydrogen fuel is that it is readily available and emits no harmful emissions and hence is environmentally friendly.

Helium Gas Filled in Balloons

Helium being a light inert gas, it is used to fill the balloon. The gas filled in the balloon is lighter in weight than the oxygen and nitrogen; they are lifted high above the atmosphere as the lighter density matter will float above the air.

Clocks

The clocks are run on the batteries which are composed of a chemical element or the mixtures.

Thus the chemical energy of the battery is converted into mechanical energy.

Gunpowder

It is used to reduce to loss of energy caused due to friction while bullets are fired towards the target thus exerting more force on the bullet to traverse through the air and overcome the air resistance. Thus the kinetic energy of the bullet is increased with the use of gunpowder.

Boric Acid Powder

There is a lot of friction caused on the surface of the carom men upon rubbing its surface on the carom board during its motion on hitting the striker and the carom men do not move easily in the target.

Hence a fine-grained boric acid powder is used on the board to reduce the friction caused and enable the pieces to slide over the board easily.

Citrus Fruits

The citrus fruits contain citric acid and are rich in vitamin C and calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Examples of citrus fruits are lemon, mandarins, grapes, oranges, lime, amla, etc. This is stored as chemical energy and helps boost our potential energy.

Steamboats

The steamboat runs on the evaporated steam. The boiler is supplied with heat energy which is used to convert the water from the boiler into a vapor state. These vapors are made to fall on the propeller that rotates and supplies energy to the steamboat.

Diesel

Diesel is chemical energy used to fuel vehicles.

The engine works on 4 strokes and the spontaneous motion of the piston up and down compressing the air, it heats up and the fuel burns due to combustion and supplies power to the vehicles.

Uranium Fission

The uranium atom is highly radioactive in nature because of the instability of its nucleus, hence it is always found in its isotopes form. A lot of energy is released upon the fission of the uranium atom and hence is used in the nuclear power plant to generate electricity.

Trains

Trains run on the coal which is burned in the combustion process. The heat energy is supplied to the coal. The energy thus released is used to run the engine of the train. The coal is made up of carbon which reacts with the oxygen in the surrounding air to form carbon dioxide as the bonds between the carbon atoms breaks.

Drones

The drone is widely used today to take pictures from the above horizon and in fields to water the plants and spray pesticides, even sanitize the area and supply the food and groceries.

To power up the drones, a rechargeable battery is used. This helps to convert the chemical energy into the mechanical energy of the propellers thus providing enough trust to uplift the body of the drone.

Construction

The construction of houses, building, huge apartments, and bridges, do need cement, sand, and water, to solidify the structure. Hence chemical energy is essential to provide strong rigid structures.

Sea Shells

The shells of the seashells in the seawater are made up of calcium carbonate. Once the animal escape leaves the shell, these shells are dried and broken down and crushed to form a fine powder giving a calcium carbonate which is used for varieties of purposes.

Erosion

The erosion of the soil and rocks is due to the hydraulic pressure of the water molecules. The erosion of the soil is seen majorly during the rainy season and the rock near the water bodies constantly undergo erosion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is rubber an example of chemical energy?

The rubber is produced from the sap of a rubber tree.

The sap is collected by tapping the latex sap of the tree, which is then filtered and stored in the vessels where it gets condensed. An acid is added to the container. This is then cut into small sheets.

What are the uses of chemical energy?

Chemical energy is used almost everywhere and is converted into various other forms of energy.

The chemical energy is used to generate electricity, and produce heat energy and radiant energy source. It is also used to gain the potential energy by the animals.

Is medicine a form of chemical energy?

The medicine is entirely a chemical compound.

The better medicine is stated based on the better chemical reaction that it carries out shows a better impact on the infection. The chemical reaction implies the breaking of bonds and formation of new bonds thus the chemical energy comes into the picture.

Is flowing water an example of chemical energy?

The flowing water is a mechanical form of the energy provided by the chemical energy of the water.

The water molecules exert the hydraulic pressure on molecules surrounding it and on the object present in the volume of the water.

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Mechanical energy is the combination of kinetic energy and the potential energy of the system.

The non mechanical energy examples are those activities that are achieved without using the mechanical energy and the work is done. Here is a list of examples that we are going to discuss below:-

Seismic Waves

The seismic waves are generated due to the plate tectonic activities and the movement of the molten magma. There are two types of wave p-wave and s-wave. P-wave can traverse through the asthenosphere but s-wave can pass through only the solid medium.

The Vehicle Parked on the Roadside

The vehicles parked experience the gravitational potential energy, the air drag, and frictional force on tires.

The stationary vehicles are examples of non mechanical energy as there is no utilization of mechanical energy.

Scanning

Scanning is a method used to decrypt the code, to make a soft copy of the text, paper, images, etc. The scanner is connected to the computer system and the scanned copies are displayed on the computer screen on digitizing the information.

Solar Panels

The solar panels are used to convert the sunlight energy to electrical energy. The sunlight incident on the panel supplies energy to the electrons of the semiconducting surface.

The agility of the electrons produces the direct current which is converted into ac supply by using an inverter.

Electric Current

The electric current is produced due to the mobility of the free electrons present in the conducting material. The direction of the current is opposite to the direction of the motion of the free electrons. Thus electric current is an example of electrical energy and is non mechanical energy.

Electrolysis

The electrolysis is a process through which the chemical reaction takes place by supplying electric current through the chemical stored in a beaker. Two rods are inserted into the solution. On application of current, one rob behaves as an anode and another rod as a cathode. The positive ions will move towards the cathode and negative ions in the solution will migrate towards the anode as unlink charges attract.

Soldering

It is a process of joining two or more metallic parts together by using a good conducting metal such that the electrical current can pass through it and the device can work.

The most widely used metal for soldering purposes is copper. The soldering iron device is heating and the copper is melted and the molten copper is dropped to connect the two parts together making a strong bond.

Bulb

The bulb has a tungsten filament which is a very rare element found on the Earth. As the electric current pass through this filament which is at the center of the bulb, the electrons start exciting. This excitation of the electrons radiates energy in the form of light thus brightening the room. This is also a non mechanical example.

LEDs

The light-emitting diode is a semiconductor and the color of different LED lights depends upon the band-gap of the semiconductor.

As the current pass through the diode, the electrons will migrate to cross this band-gap and occupies the hole and the photon is released. The energy required to cross the band gap determines the color or the wavelength emitted by the diode.

PIR Sensor

The PIR sensor is a passive infrared sensor, which senses the difference in the energy levels and hence is also called the motion sensor. This is widely used in the electric bulbs in different places like in malls, storerooms, warehouses, malls, washrooms, etc. The wave irradiated from the object incident on the crystal is sensed by the sensor and reads it as the motion because there is a variation in the energy and the light bulb glows.

Reflection

The incident ray of light reflected at the same angle is called a reflection of that light. The mirror is an example of reflection.

This is a non mechanical energy example. The angle made by the normal and the incident wave is equal to the angle made by the reflected wave with the normal.

Absorption

The absorption of the light rays by the object depends upon its emissivity factor while the absorption of the molecules from the solution depends upon the void and spacing between the molecules comprising the object.

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear fission does not involve any mechanical process. The parent nuclei bifurcate into two nuclei giving out a huge amount of energy. This clearly depends upon nuclear energy. This nuclear energy is used in nuclear power plants to produce a large amount of energy. The reactant where the nuclear fission takes place has to be maintained properly to avoid reaching it at the supercritical stage.

Buoy

Buoys are used as navigator marks on the river and sea routes.

Also, it is used by fishermen on the fishing net to locate their net where they have set the net to catch the fish as it remains stable on the surface of the water due to the buoyant force exerted by the volume of the water.

Metamorphism

Metamorphism is a process of solidification of the rock mass as a result of continuous exposure to the heat and pressure conditions for a prolonged time. The grains of the rocks develop well-defined faces and structures.

Vibrations

The vibrations are produced due to the back and forth motion of the molecules. The vibrations result in the formation of longitudinal waves which form the region of compression and expansion depending upon the motion of the molecules in its path.

Camp Fire

The burning wood gives out the heat energy and the radiant energy in the form of a light blaze.

It is non mechanical energy as the chemical energy of the wood and fuel is utilized to fire the wood, and this chemical energy is converted into radiant energy providing warmth during the campfire.

Batteries

Batteries are also an example of the conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy which is non mechanical energy. The batteries are filled with the chemical components where reactants will react to produce a final product, the stage where batteries can no longer be used. Some are rechargeable batteries like nickel-cadmium, lithium-ion batteries, etc which last for 5-7 years.

Natural Gas

The natural gas obtained from the Earth’s crust is used in the gas cylinders. This gas is stored in the liquid form under the high pressure in the cylinder. When the knob is turned open, the gas will move from high pressure to the low-pressure region by converting its liquid phase into the gaseous and passing through the burner.

Solar Cooker

The solar cookers work on the radiation energy received by the Sun.

The sunlight is incident on the black body where the energies photons from the sunrays are completely absorbed by the blackbody and the food kept in the container gets cooked.

Solar Heaters

The solar heater also works on the principles of radiation energy photons. The light waves incident on the heater are absorbed and are irradiated out in absence of the Sun during the night and provides warmth in the room during the winters.

Decomposition

It is a decay of the organic matter due to a decomposition reaction that takes place as a large amount of heat is supplied to the organic matter.

This heat energy is utilized to break the bonds between the molecules and degrade them into smaller parts.

Melting

The process of transformation of a solid into a liquid state is called melting. It requires an amount of heat energy to overcome the molecular attraction force and increase the spacing between the molecules lowering the density of the matter. The heat energy is utilized to break the bond between the molecules and increase the distance of separation between the molecules thus converting the solid state to the liquid state.

Boiling

The boiling point is the temperature at which the liquid starts boiling and converts its state to the vapor phase.

The heat energy is supplied to the liquid by heating it for a time in a container. The molecular bonds break due to an immense supply of heat energy and this energy is given out by the vapor in the form of kinetic energy.

Exfoliations

You must have seen the exfoliated rocks and even the old furniture. These exfoliation results because the rocks and furniture undergo different temperature conditions during frequent cold and hot climatic conditions. This results in the expansion of the molecules comprising the objects during hot summers and contraction during the winter season, thus causing the exfoliations.

Light

Light is a source of radiation energy. We receive light energy from the sunlight, electric bulbs, other electronics, bioluminescence, etc.

The light wave carries energies photons along with it, and the photon emits this energy upon incident on the object.

Irradiation

Irradiation is the emission of the energy absorbed by the object upon being exposed to the radiation. The incident light energy gives away its energy to the object which is absorbed by the object depending upon its emissivity. This increases the internal heat energy of the object and is given out in the form of waves of slightly longer wavelengths and shorter frequencies.

Condensation

Condensation is a process of combining the vapors to turn them back into the liquid state. The accumulation of the evaporated vapors into the air loses its kinetic energy at a certain height and collides with the surrounding vapors due to surface tension to form a cloud.

Geothermal Energy

It is the energy derived from the depth of the Earth’s crust.

The geothermal energy increases at every depth beneath the earth as the overlaying pressure on the mass increases down the depth and with increasing pressure, the temperature also rises.

Photosynthesis

It is a process by which the green plants prepare their own food in the presence of sunlight and give out oxygen. It is a non mechanical energy example as there is no combination of the kinetic and potential energy is seen. The energy responsible for this process is the radiant energy received by the plant during daylight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water stored in a tank an example of non mechanical energy?

The hydraulic pressure of the water stored in the tank depends upon the depth of water from the water level.

The water in a tank is in a stable state, this indicates that there is no mechanical activity. The water possesses the gravitational potential energy depending on the height of the level and is an example of non mechanical energy.

An object rolling on the ground is an example of mechanical or non mechanical energy?

The object on the ground experiences the gravitational force on it.

The rolling object possesses potential energy which is converted into kinetic energy while rolling. The combination of both energies is mechanical energy.

Is running tap water an example of non mechanical energy?

The water moves from the high pressure region to the low pressure area.

The running tap water cannot be an example of non mechanical energy. This is because the volume of water falling from the height has potential energy and kinetic energy too, hence is an example of mechanical energy.

Is elastic energy the form of mechanical energy or non mechanical energy?

In an elastic collision, the mass and movement of the colliding object are conserved.

The object in the motion has kinetic energy and the object does have some potential energy accompanied with it gained upon colliding, thus is a form of mechanical energy.

Is spring energy an example of mechanical energy or non mechanical energy?

The spring is also an elastic object because it regains its original shape and size when the force incident over it is released.

When the force is applied to the spring, the potential energy is stored by the spring which is converted into kinetic energy as the pressure is released, thus it is an example of mechanical energy.

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